Six killed as bus driver falls asleep while driving

Rescuers cut vehicle’s body to rescue victims

FAISALABAD: At least six people were killed and 25 others suffered injuries when a passenger bus plunged into a canal near Chota on Faisalabad-Rajana Road on Friday.

The incident occurred as the driver lost control of the bus as he fell asleep while driving, police said.

A police official told The Express Tribune that a bus carrying passengers was on its way to Multan from Faisalabad when it suddenly veered off the road and plunged in to a canal. As a result, six passengers drowned while the others were injured.

The official maintained, “The accident occurred after the bus driver fell asleep while driving.” He pointed out, “A huge noise was heard and people rushed to the spot to rescue the victims”.



A team of Rescue 1122 recovered three bodies from the canal after cutting the body of the bus. The injured were shifted to the Teshil Headquarters Hospital, Sammundari and Divisional Headquarters Hospital.

The injured passengers were identified as 30-year-old Sajid, Gulzar, 40, Faiz Ali, 35, Safdar, 35, Sardaran Bibi, 40, Humanyun, 25, Shahnaz Amanullah, 35, 40-year-old Amanat Taj Din, Raheela Tariq, 40, Sana Idrees, 25, Aslam Asghar, 40, Humaira Rehman, 18, Haleema Hussain, 40, Khalida Bhola, 35,Younus Hussain, 18, Saba Bibi, 42, 22-year-old Shehnaz Ashraf and an unidentified boy.

The police said the bus driver managed to escape from the spot but efforts were underway to arrest him.

Eralier in April, at least three people of the same family were killed and six others sustained injuries when a speeding car fell into canal in Khanpur area near Sheikhupura.

The ill-fated family was returning to their home after attending an engagement function in Khangah Dogran. The car they were traveling in plunged into canal in Khanpur area due to over-speeding. Three people, including a woman and a child were killed while six others were wounded.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2017.